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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Trouble in Texas by Phyliss Miranda

Although I've written six western historical anthologies for Kensington and two short story collections for Prairie Rose Press, I've ended up writing two contemporaries romance for Kensington, but mine are a little different. I knew I definitely wanted my heroine to come back to a small Texas town, but I needed a name. Suddenly, Kasota Springs and its fifth generation residents came to life. Many of you will remember the town and the names from two of my western historical anthologies Give me a Cowboy and A Texas Christmas.

My story The Troubled Texan came to me after I followed a horrific mass murder in California. It took two and a half years to prepare for the three month trial. In my previous life, I worked in the legal field, so I know first hand how a case gets into the head of the lawyer ... particularly prosecuting such a horrifying one where psychiatrists were on the scene to assist the investigators. I asked myself what the prosecuting attorney would do if she was threatened in the courtroom as the defendant heard his conviction. My answer--get as far away from LA as possible.

I’d been saving my hero for a special book. A retired professional football player turned Sheriff. He fit perfectly into the first of the Kasota Springs Romance series because it’s full of suspense, romance, and secrets. As a special treat, at the end, I included my grandmother’s chocolate cake recipe and the family story behind it.

A single blast of a siren from a county marked club-cab pickup sliced the air.

“Son of a ..l” She slammed her hands on the steering wheel, tapped the brakes and pulled to the soft shoulder of the road. Speedling! I had to be speeding. And her proof of insurance had blown away when she’d opened the glove box way back in Tennessee.

Trouble had found her and she hadn’t been in the Texas Panhandle more than an hour. In this Godforsaken county, she’d be lucky if she didn’t get the book thrown at her.

She had carefully selected FarleySprings to relocate because it was far enough away from her hometown of Denton, Texas, for her not to be recognized, while small enough to feel at home. Along with the fact she had prepaid a six-month lease on a building sight unseen in the Podunk city. She had planned to slip quietly into town and go inconspicuously about her business. But now ... that might be impossible.

In the rearview mirror, she saw the silhouette of the officer unfold from the patrol car. He carried himself with a confident presence, an air of authority. Most likely there would be no talking her way out of a ticket.

There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in his stride, as the tall man approached. No doubt, she had found trouble and he came with a Stetson, a Glock .45 on his hip, and the means go unravel the elaborate ruse she’d constructed.

From the way the deputy pulled the white felt hat low over his eyes and lifted back his jacket to touch his service revolver, he expected instant obedience. A no-nonsense type person who would enjoy making an example of a commonplace automobile with New York plates speeding through his sleepy Texas town.

Biting on her lower lip, she jerked open the gym bag and retrieved her new driver’s license and auto registration card. Maybe he wouldn’t ask for her insurance card. Not likely, but maybe.

He looks tough and way too cocky, but great body! Her tongue danced along her upper lip.

Shadowed by the remnants of a lazy West Texas sunset, the big man trooping her way reminded her of Donovan Cowan, Sr., the tough-as-nails longtime sheriff of Denton. Teaching the teenagers a valuable lesson, if he caught them speeding, they were an automatic overnight guest of the county. Swallowing hard, she tried to dislodge the knot in her throat. The death of the gruff old hound dog, killed in the line of duty, had been plastered all over the Internet for weeks.

As though she stepped on a grave, thoughts of his son Deuce chilled her musing. After nearly three decades of trying to ignore his existence, why would she think about the baddest good boy she had ever known?

To one reader I will give you a gift card to purchase “The Troubled Texan”. And, to a second reader who leaves a comment, I will send them a Bath and Body Works gift certificate.

19 comments:

Mass murders are so disturbing. These days, it takes a brave heart to go to a shopping mall or attend school. I haven't met many people who have experience inside a court room with an insider's view to proceedings. I know this experience must be very valuable to you, Phyliss, when you decided to write The Troubled Texan. I see by the excerpt that our heroine may already know the hero who's about to issue her a ticket for speeding. This ought to be good.I wish you tremendous success and happiness, Phyliss.

Hi Sarah, good to see you. I did corporate law and medical malpractice but I've watched my share of murder trials. I even attended the Michael Jackson trial over in Santa Marie, Cal. My oldest daughter and family lived there then (and have moved back there last year). The grands were very young (2 not even born), so I had a little time on my hands. That was very interesting. I got assigned seating right behind a bunch of the reporters, which was interesting to see their take on the trial later on TV. Yes, Rainey knows him from living in Denton and even checked to make sure who the Sheriff was in Kasota Springs before selecting this little town in the Texas Panhandle to disappear to ... she never suspected that the guy she crushed on in high school was now the sheriff. Sparks fly for sure! Big Texas hugs, Phyliss

Very interesting, Phyliss. And what a brilliant idea it was to bring to life future generations of characters from our anthologies! I loved this book. It has everything--romance, a ton of suspense, and a good sprinkling of humor thrown in. Can't wait to read your next one.

Hi friend. I'm not sure when I decided to set my contemporaries in Kasota Springs, but I'm sure you had a hand in it! At that time my contract didn't call for a series, but it does now. It is so much fun to see the relatives of the founders (5 generations later) come alive on paper. I tried to keep true to our original characters. Oh, you'll have plenty of pages to read before it goes in. Thanks for the good wishes, I know your historical romance series is excellent, so I'm very eager to see it in print for the world to read. Big hugs, my friend. P

Delicious and suspenseful. I know I will enjoy this one, having worked on the other side of the bars in juvenile lock up. Congratulations! I also enjoyed your shorts in the 'Texas' anthologies. Best to you on this one, sounds greats. Doris

Hi Doris, good to see you. You'd certainly know where I'm coming from with your job. Thanks for your compliment on our "Texas" anthologies. Our first one was set in Amarillo and was suppose to follow into a series of anthologies with C&W song names, the first being "All My Heros are Cowboys" with Lorraine Heath among other authors. So we named it "Amarillo by Morning". So excited, such a great name. Well, the art department couldn't get it on the cover and the name got changed to "Give Me a Texan". That was the beginning of the "Give Me" series and we've really enjoyed each and every book. I am excited to write this new contemporary series. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did writing it. Big Texas hugs, Phyliss

PHYLISS!!! It's so good to see you! Well, you know how I love bad boys (who doesn't?) LOL So of course I must read this. I already have it, but when will I have the time? Well, it's waiting on me when I DO have the time and I'm looking forward to it. I really love stories that span generations and have people in them we've met in other books.

And what a gorgeous cover! Love you, dear friend! Much success with these wonderful stories of yours!Hugs,Cheryl

Hi precious friend. Oh yeah, we all love the bad boy cowboys whether they ride a horse or a SUV with County Plates on them! The thing that I didn't know when I first began the book was that's he's got a secret he's keeping from even Rainey. The secret really touches your heart, as some readers and reviews have told me. Although he's tough, when it comes to this particular situation, he's nothing but a strong, loving man. I love this cover too, thanks for mentioning it. I'm hoping the second book in the series is accepted as well as this one has been. I'm just sorry that Kensington is keeping me so busy that I can't write a couple or three more short story collections with PRP. Maybe I'll have time to get one in soon. Take care of big Texas hugs to my Okie friend, Phyliss

Hi Robyn, I think you'd like the book. It's a contemporary but still has the elements of a small, country town that in some ways hadn't changes much since the town was developed in the late 1800's. You're name is in the hat, just for commenting. Big hugs and best wishes, Phyliss

Thanks, Kathleen! I understand the five minute deal for sure. I hope you find the time to relax and enjoy reading other than required reading, as I call it! Thanks for the compliments, I truly appreciate them. Take care of yourself and don't work too hard, which I know you will do anyway! LOL Hugs, Phyliss

Thanks, Kirsten, so glad to see you over here at Prairie Rose. I hope you enjoy the book. Let me know what you think and give me any ideas you might have on who you'd like to see more of in future books. My editor has a favorite he wants explored, but I'm keeping that a secret for the time being. Thanks again and big Texas hugs, Phyliss

Good evening, ladies. I hope you all had a great day. I know I sure did. I've drawn the winners for today. Congratulations, Robyn Echols, as you were my winner for an Amazon gift certificate to order "The Troubled Texan" and also congratulations to Renaissance Woman Miss Doris as my winner of a gift certificate to Bath and Body Works.

Thanks everyone for stopping by and leaving a comment. I will contact you to obtain the information needed to get your gifts to you.

Sorry I'm chiming in late, Phyllis, but this story sounds so good. It's waiting patiently in my TBR and I can't wait to dig in. Love that you bring the future generations of Kasota Springs to life. :) Best of luck with the series!

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Welcome to PRAIRIE ROSE PUBLICATIONS

PRP is a publishing company devoted to publishing westerns and western romances written by women.

PRAIRIE ROSE PUBLICATIONS was opened in August, 2013, by LIVIA J. WASHBURN and CHERYL PIERSON, two authors who saw a need for such an imprint. Usually, when people think “westerns” they think of male authors and male readers—but that’s not true in today’s world. Many women are just as interested in reading—and writing—westerns as their male counterparts; and of course, western romance has always been popular among the ladies!